Metal Assault: Album Reviews

By Aniruddh “Andrew” Bansal

The legendary New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement of the late 1970s gave rise to some of my favorite music, and even today, it doesn’t cease to amaze me. Over the past couple of years, that era has seen somewhat of a resurgence, with the reincarnation of Tank in 2010, Saxon touring North America in 2011 after a long time, and Angel Witch releasing their new album this year, their first after a gap of 14 years. Now it’s the turn of Savage, who have reunited after a 10-year hiatus and have come out with their sixth studio release “Sons Of Malice”. Formed in 1979 by bassist/vocalist Chris Bradley and guitarist Andy Dawnson, teenagers at the time, the band gained recognition in their early years through songs like “Let It Loose”, which was also covered by Metallica for their pre-Kill ‘Em All demo recordings. Fast forward to 2012, Savage is back to present some of the very same musical elements that made them an influential band in the early days, but with a modern touch. Continue reading “Savage – Sons Of Malice [8 out of 10]”

By Aniruddh “Andrew” Bansal

Teutonic thrash veterans Kreator have been around for more than 30 years, and their twelve studio albums thus far have taken them through quite a journey. They started with out-and-out thrash metal on the first four albums, after which they began experimenting during the 90’s, and at the turn of the century, they returned with a hybrid of thrash and Scandinavian melodic death metal on albums such as “Violent Revolution” and “Enemy Of God”. But their latest album “Hordes Of Chaos” really took them back to the roots, not only in terms of musical style but also the recording process. For the most part, they used analog tape to record this album in a live setting, giving it the exact mid 80’s vibe that laid the foundation for the band in the first place. Based on the strength of this album, Kreator also completed a successful world tour, including a very memorable gig at the House of Blues in Hollywood, on March 23rd 2010. That show remains strong in my memory, as Kreator definitely proved themselves to be one of the most intense and violent thrash metal acts going around, when it comes to the live performance. It’s now been three-and-a-half years since the release of “Hordes Of Chaos”, and it’s time to embrace Kreator’s follow-up effort “Phantom Antichrist”, which also marks their debut on the Nuclear Blast label. Continue reading “Kreator – Phantom Antichrist [9 out of 10]”

By Avinash Mittur

To most metal fans, Sleep is simply one of many great stoner metal bands from the nineties that knocked out some classic albums of the genre. For more hardcore fans, Sleep is far more than a mere heavy metal band. Their story is a ganja-infused riff-laden legend, and the lack of a definitive version of it has only enhanced this tale even more. It’s been over a decade since its creation in the studio, but Sleep’s magnum opus, Dopesmoker, is finally being released and distributed with the approval of the members of the band.  Continue reading “Sleep – Dopesmoker [9.5 out of 10]”

By Tyler Crooks

The word “legendary” is thrown around a lot in the metal scene, but what makes a true legend? Varg Vikernes is the prime example of a legitimate legend. From his roots in Mayhem, to the murder of Euronymous, Varg has created a legacy that no one can possibly ever touch. Varg’s newest album “Umskiptar” is another chapter in his historical tome. The album begins simply; Varg speaking poetically in Norwegian while a simple 2-hit drum beat loops in the background. The whole of Umskiptar is a very interesting album. There are tracks like “Joln,” which are very reminiscent of early Burzum, and then there are tracks like “Valgaldr,” which sound like classic Burzum with modern elements thrown in. Continue reading “Burzum – Umskiptar [5 out of 10]”

By Aniruddh “Andrew” Bansal

Between The Buried And Me is one of the most dynamic metal bands out there in today’s scene in my opinion, not only in terms of the music they compose, but also the way they present it on stage. Their latest EP “The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues” and the subsequent live shows prove this very statement. But besides the success it has achieved among fans and critics, the band’s music has also left room for the individual talents of the five members to prosper. As a result, they are now venturing into side projects to showcase these talents further. After last year’s electronic/experimental rock release by vocalist Thomas Giles Rogers called “Pulse”, it’s the turn of bassist Dan Briggs to present “Separate Realities”, the debut album featuring his jazz-metal fusion side project Trioscapes. Continue reading “Trioscapes – Separate Realities [9 out of 10]”

By Aniruddh “Andrew” Bansal

Despite the plethora of heavy music releases I’ve reviewed this year, it’s been a while since I came across an out-and-out rock guitar album, and finally, I got my hands on one. Rob Zombie and ex-Marilyn Manson guitarist John 5 is releasing his sixth solo album, “God Told Me To”, today on May 8th 2012. While I’ve honestly never been a fan of Zombie or Manson, I have always respected John 5 for his talents on the guitar, and kept an eye on his activities outside of those bands. That fact that he got to work with David Lee Roth and Paul Stanley on their respective solo albums is a testimony to his musicianship, and is an indication of the kind of admiration he enjoys in the rock music circles. One thing is for sure, this new album will only enhance his reputation, because this is quite unlike anything he has done in the past. Continue reading “John 5 – God Told Me To [10 out of 10]”